Any form of addiction is one of the most difficult challenges in life. A person can easily get trapped into it but it is almost impossible to get out of it clean and unscathed. Morphine addiction, for example, is one of the easy traps that many people can fall into. The most common morphine street names are: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and morphine; and one of its common effect on humans is it numbs pain and makes you feel some kind of “high” that all is well with the world.
Actually, many individuals have been restored to good health and are freed from morphine addiction through the help of rehabilitation centers and kind hearted individuals and institutions. Another serious problem arises, however, when they are exposed back to the “world” where their former buddies and drug pushers abound. Also, when they are once again faced with the hard realities of normal life and are tempted once again to succumb to the promise of relief by this drug, will they be able to firmly say NO?
Rehabilitation therefore does not end with the withdrawal of the person from drug dependence; it goes beyond the four walls of the rehabilitation facilities into their homecoming and exposure to their former friends and environment. Since this is a serious matter that needs serious consideration, here are suggestions to keep them going the straight path namely: sustained family support; a changed heart; and continued reality check.
Sustained Family Support
When the person is declared clean and ready to go home, the journey to a better life is only just beginning. This is the time when the former drug dependent is to face his or her greatest challenge. This is therefore the time that the family support becomes so vital. Outside the rehab center and the reassuring presence of the rehab helpers, the person may be in for greater struggle and even culture shock. In this case, each family member must then be aware of the special need of the individual, thus making sure that he or she is not left to herself especially in facing his or her former buddies. It would surely take a long time for him or her to be able to cope with the after morphine life and be able to resist the temptation of either conscious or unconscious setback.
If possible, the person should be under extra care of parents or loved ones; and be continually reassured and positively encouraged. In addition, a change of environment would greatly help so that he or she will not be reminded of his or her past struggle.
Changed Heart
Of course, the person himself or herself must have a changed heart during and after the rehabilitation process. He or she must be so determined never to go back to his or her old self. Most often this is more effective if the person has encountered a sort of spiritual and emotional realization that he or she is important; in a way, it is having developed in himself or herself a positive self-image and self-esteem.
One of the ways of maintaining a positive outlook in life is by being able to get involved in life changing causes or being busy with new projects or a fulfilling job. When the individual experiences significance and fulfillment, he or she would less likely slide back to drug addiction and negative habits.
Continued Reality Check
Finally, to be truly successful in a life free of morphine and any form or addiction, the person as well as his family or loved ones must always be alert and conscious of the power and presence of problems and possible addiction to quick relief. This may need commitment and determination on the person as well as the people that surround him or her.
Sometimes it appears that getting out of addiction and staying away from addiction after rehab are equally difficult processes. Human nature dictates a craving for all that is pleasurable and you do not usually know what feels or tastes good unless you have been through it before. This is one of the reasons why this after rehab life should be strictly monitored and followed up. Life’s problems would always be there, so the person must realize that he or she must be responsible and accountable for his or her life and with his or her coping mechanisms.
First published in: http://rakz105.expertscolumn.com/article/life-after-morphine-addiction